[Cambridge or LSE/Sciences Po (Fulbright)??]

UPDATE: The Fulbright gives 16200 Euros and does not cover tuition. So I'd still be paying tuition at Sciences Po... This may change things. 

[Cambridge or LSE/Sciences Po (Fulbright)?]

36 minutes ago, monocle said:

It sounds like youre in love with Cambridge, so more power to you if you go...

However, might I suggest that you defer for a year, maybe try to move to the UK and find gainful work there? It doesnt seem like a good idea to go to grad school right now if you dont have a clear idea of what you want to do. Especially in a one-year program in IR.

Ive done hiring in Intl Development/human rights (albeit im based in Asia) and have come across many who hold UK masters including LSE and Oxford (no Cambridge unfortunately). And they were looking for unpaid internships/low paying entry level jobs still.. I guess it could be the norm, but I still find it a little bizarre

anyways, without a good idea of funding and what kind of job you want after, it doesnt sound like a sound investment.. Yet

If you dont want to defer, one thing you could do instead is quit your job now, find a summer internship in a field of interest, or cultivate your passion for something and improve your chances of getting that job afterwards (rather than an unpaid internship/entry level job)

That's really interesting, @monocle! Just curious- if a grad from either of my options applied for an Intl Dev job of yours that wasn't entry level, would you have a preference in hiring? Cambridge vs LSE/Sciences Po?

[Cambridge or LSE/Sciences Po (Fulbright)?]

UPDATE: The Fulbright gives 16200 Euros and does not cover tuition. So I'd still be paying tuition at Sciences Po... This may change things. 

[Cambridge or LSE/Sciences Po (Fulbright)?]

Thank you both @Flou and @happygomucky! To answer a few more questions, I do speak intermediate French and would have to take some classes over the summer to brush up, but I'm not so worried about that as I am fluent in other Romance languages and can pick it up pretty quickly. Coming away with high quality French skills is a draw of Sciences Po, but I have read all the negative reviews...

Another thing to consider about the costs of the second year at LSE is that the first year at Sciences Po would give me some time to look for more funding, and I believe there is a scholarship for Sciences Po students about to go on to the second year at LSE. An internship between the two years could also help me with securing a job post-grad. I'm also worried about the cost of living in London for a year without a job, since I lived there two years ago and it was very expensive, but my boyfriend does live there so that could make rent a bit easier.

I think my biggest issue right now is that I really fell in love with Cambridge and would have such a hard time turning it down and might regret missing out on that experience for the rest of my life. It's just hard to figure out if the Fulbright/PSIA/LSE scenario is worth so much more to override my own personal feelings about quality of life. It looks like it might be....

[Boren 2016-2017]

9 minutes ago, Mabelkitty2012 said:

@10Daphne I'm so sorry to hear that!  thanks for telling us about your experience though. Would you mind sharing your major and more about your particular background? I guess I'm wondering whether this frustration is widespread or contingent on individual factors like major, work experience, language, et cetera.

Also, have you had any luck finding a job as an educator or language instructor?  It sounds like they are willing to accommodate those who do not find an appropriate position with the government: "While NSEP is deeply committed to helping Boren Scholars and Fellows secure Federal employment, the Federal Government is not obligated to hire any individual who has received funding through this program. Therefore, if a Scholar or Fellow from the 2008-present award cohort demonstrates to NSEP that no appropriate position is available in the Federal Government, the Scholar or Fellow may petition NSEP to fulfill the requirement in an education position directly related to the language(s) or area(s) he/she studied during the Boren Scholarship or Fellowship or to another language or area where he/she has demonstrated competency. The education option is available only after exhausting all opportunities to fulfill the requirement in the Federal Government in accordance with conditions established by NSEP."

 

I went to a top 10 university and studied International Relations- I was really excited about the Boren at first and was under the impression it was like getting a guaranteed job after college. But upon graduation I realized I didn't want to work in government - especially not the Asylum Officer or DoD jobs that I kept seeing advertised, while meaningful jobs in the State Dept are few and far in between. I have career ambitions and want to go on to work in the private sector, so going back to the country I did the Boren in to teach English would be a hurdle and a waste of a year career-wise. When they say "exhausting all opportunities," it means spending months and months on end applying for government jobs, being told to just take another job in the meantime and to drop it when a gov job finally comes through - which isn't how you build a career. You're also told that if you can't find a gov job you can do an unpaid internship for a year, which would probably cost more than paying back the 20,000. 

[Cambridge or LSE/Sciences Po (Fulbright)?]

Some background: I am an American, recently graduated from an Ivy League school with two years of job experience (1 in London, which I fell in love with). I want to go back to live and work in London, but without a lot of direction about what I want to do (considering consulting/intl development/intl business). As I studied international relations as an undergrad, I was hoping to go back to the UK for a degree and use that as a platform for finding a job in London and figuring out what I want to do. I'm not interested in academia, nor did I want to go for an MBA or a degree in finance. I've gotten into some great schools, but need to decide what would be best from a funding point of view and also what would open the most doors for me!

-Cambridge MPhil in International Relations and Politics- no money (as of yet), about 36,000 GBP including housing. Only one year, which is a draw as less expensive than 2 year. And I've fallen in love with Cambridge and think it would be great from a student life perspective. However, it is quite expensive and not as practical of a degree.

-Fulbright for Sciences Po Paris, with LSE the following year (dual degree). This is really exciting! I've gotten into the dual degree- Sciences Po PSIA Master in International Public Management and LSE MSc in International Political Economy. And Paris would be amazing. However, I would have to pay for the year at LSE when the Fulbright ends- ~20,000 GBP not including housing.

-Oxford MPhil in International Relations- more prestigious than Cambridge's program (is this considered true?) but more expensive for 2 years and includes a year of required courses like research methodology which wouldn't be as useful for my career goals.

-Others: LSE MSc in IPE on its own (1 year), PSIA International Public Management on its own (Fulbright first year, second year much less expensive than if I did the LSE dual degree but less impressive/wouldn't open doors in London), UCL Masters in International Public Policy, SAIS Bologna/DC (offered no money), SIPA MIA (offered no money)

[Cambridge or LSE/Sciences Po (Fulbright)?]

Any advice you can give would be much appreciated! I have a very tough choice ahead of me.

-Cambridge MPhil in International Relations and Politics.

-Fulbright for Sciences Po Paris, with LSE the following year (dual degree).

-Others: Oxford MPhil in International Relations and Politics, LSE MSc in IPE on its own (1 year), PSIA International Public Management on its own (Fulbright first year, second year much less expensive than if I did the LSE dual degree but less impressive/wouldn't open doors in London), UCL Masters in International Public Policy, SAIS Bologna/DC (offered no money), SIPA MIA (offered no money)

[Boren 2016-2017]

I was a Boren Scholar and HIGHLY ADVISE you to think very carefully before accepting a Boren- I was under the impression it would be easy to fulfill the service requirement, but a few years out after graduation I have sent countless government applications with no reply, and am faced with either having to put a lot of life plans on hold or paying back $20,000. It's more like a loan than a scholarship, and has a lot of strings attached. The Schedule A status is oftentimes meaningless, and this has been one of the most frustrating experiences I can think of! 

[Fulbright 2016 - 2017]

2 hours ago, emmajust said:

Great to know, thanks! Was this for the UK program?

@emmajust France! 

[Fulbright 2016 - 2017]

I was selected as an alternate and then 5 days later got promoted to finalist- it does happen!!! Very pleased

[Cambridge or LSE/Sciences Po (Fulbright)??]

Thank you @RetroFuturism! This is really helpful. You're the first person to tell me to go to Cambridge- other friends and family have said that the combination of Fulbright/Sciences Po degree/LSE degree, along with having lived in Paris, would be too hard to turn down. I agree with you that, Fulbright aside, I would pick Cambridge over LSE, but I'm stuck when it comes to turning down the Fulbright year in Paris to go to Cambridge. Your analysis removes Fulbright from the equation, but I wonder if it's better to look at it removing LSE from the equation (Fulbright funding a degree from Sciences Po vs. Cambridge)?

Also, are you currently in the MPhil in IR at Cambridge? I would appreciate all the information about it you can give! 

[Cambridge or LSE/Sciences Po (Fulbright)??]

Some background: I am an American, recently graduated from an Ivy League school with two years of job experience (1 in London, which I fell in love with). I want to go back to live and work in London, but without a lot of direction about what I want to do (considering consulting/intl development/intl business). As I studied international relations as an undergrad, I was hoping to go back to the UK for a degree and use that as a platform for finding a job in London and figuring out what I want to do. I'm not interested in academia, nor did I want to go for an MBA or a degree in finance. I've gotten into some great schools, but need to decide what would be best from a funding point of view and also what would open the most doors for me!

-Cambridge MPhil in International Relations and Politics- no money (as of yet), about 36,000 GBP including housing. Only one year, which is a draw as less expensive than 2 year. And I've fallen in love with Cambridge and think it would be great from a student life perspective. However, it is quite expensive and not as practical of a degree.

-Fulbright for Sciences Po Paris, with LSE the following year (dual degree). This is really exciting! I've gotten into the dual degree- Sciences Po PSIA Master in International Public Management and LSE MSc in International Political Economy. And Paris would be amazing. However, I would have to pay for the year at LSE when the Fulbright ends- ~20,000 GBP not including housing.

-Oxford MPhil in International Relations- more prestigious than Cambridge's program (is this considered true?) but more expensive for 2 years and includes a year of required courses like research methodology which wouldn't be as useful for my career goals.

-Others: LSE MSc in IPE on its own (1 year), PSIA International Public Management on its own (Fulbright first year, second year much less expensive than if I did the LSE dual degree but less impressive/wouldn't open doors in London), UCL Masters in International Public Policy, SAIS Bologna/DC (offered no money), SIPA MIA (offered no money)

[Cambridge or LSE/Sciences Po (Fulbright)??]

Any advice you can give would be much appreciated! I have a very tough choice ahead of me.

-Cambridge MPhil in International Relations and Politics.

-Fulbright for Sciences Po Paris, with LSE the following year (dual degree).

-Oxford MPhil in International Relations

-Others: LSE MSc in IPE on its own (1 year), PSIA International Public Management on its own (Fulbright first year, second year much less expensive than if I did the LSE dual degree but less impressive/wouldn't open doors in London), UCL Masters in International Public Policy, SAIS Bologna/DC (offered no money), SIPA MIA (offered no money)